Georgia Man in Fatal Intersection Crash on Stolen Bike

An unusual incident involving a Rex, Georgia motorcycle rider occurred last week. Police in North Myrtle Beach report that a man riding a stolen motorcycle was killed after running a red light. The authorities said they attempted to stop the rider because his license wasn’t displayed correctly, but the rider did not stop for the police and instead dropped off his female passenger in a parking lot and sped off. The passenger is from Decatur, Georgia and was not injured in the accident.

While all of this was unfolding, the rider ultimately ran a red light and struck the side of a boat that was being towed behind a pick up truck. The driver of the truck was attempting to make a left turn at the time of the crash. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown a great distance from the stolen bike and although he was taken to the hospital, he passed away from his injuries. He may have sped up just prior to the collision. This appears to be a tragic accident that could have been avoided.

At this point, the authorities are not citing anyone for this accident. And although the man appears to have been evading the police, we have no facts about why he was riding the stolen bike or if he knew it was a stolen bike. The early reports indicate that the bike had been stolen in Alabama.

As the weather improves and more folks are out riding, there is an increased risk of having a bike stolen. July, August and September are the months in which more bikes are stolen than at any other time of the year. There are precautions that owners can take to protect motorcycles from being stolen. These steps include the following: make sure to not only turn your ignition off, but also make sure to lock the ignition as well; try to lock your bike to something that cannot be moved; and, consider getting an alarm on your bike that might be a deterrent if someone tries to steal it. Additionally precautions include trying to park your bike near a security camera, place some identifiable marks on the bike and make sure to take a photo of your bike. When we checked on reported stolen bike sites, many owners did not have a photo of their bike. This is helpful for your own records and for law enforcement. Other possible protections include: locks placed on discs and steering columns and a tracking system.

Scholle Law is here for all riders on two wheels … whether on a motorcycle, bicycle or otherwise … we represent those injured in accidents. There is no fee for a consultation and most of our cases are handled on a contingency basis so that we get paid our legal fees only after you have recovered your damages for your injuries. Please feel free to contact us at any time regarding your accident or injury.